Quick Scottish/Irish update (10 March)

Further to my last big Irish and Scottish updates, here's a couple of little bits of extra information.

If you missed BBC NI's entertaining and touching documentary OVER HERE, fret not. If you're quick enough, you should still be able to see it on the BBC iPlayer.

Various Irish film sites are reporting that the film WC is getting a limited release from March 13th. Check your local arthouse for details. Not seen this one so can't give you any steer as to the quality.

If you're in or around Glasgow on March 28th, there's a special screening of HELEN at the CCA, by the Irish directing duo Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor (aka Desperate Optimists) who will both be in attendance for an interview. You may remember I saw this one at EIFF last year and didn't like it that much. Too cold and distant for me and just didn't ring true, but it was probably the most beautifully shot film of the 50-odd movies I saw at the festival. I'm not going to enthuse wildly about the film, but the Q&A should be interesting, particularly for low budget or aspiring filmmakers. Ticketed event, but free.

Scottish animated short HERZOG AND THE MONSTERS is now available on the BBC Film Network.

Irish film update (5 March)

Big Irish film update today. Let's crack on...

At the IFI in Dublin, this month's Ireland on Sunday screening (on Sunday 8th, i.e. this weekend) is the documentary WHAT AM I DOING HERE? by Trish McAdam which I am not familiar with at all (this is the world premiere after all) so head over to the Irish Film Institute to find out more.

Also at the IFI, this month's archive screening is the vintage DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE (which I've just heard is going to be introduced by Jim Sheridan). At the risk of destroying my credibility... I've never seen this.

Declared by me to be the joint best film of 2008, Declan Recks's EDEN has just been released on DVD in the USA so for those of you who are either in America (ooh, a wee Irish film pun there) or have multi-region DVD players, buy a copy. Still no sign of it appearing in the UK despite picking up a distributor. Admittedly it's the same distributor who picked up KINGS and I'm still waiting for that to get any kind of a UK release.

While we're talking about DVDs, Lance Daly's excellent KISSES is released to buy on DVD tomorrow, but only in Ireland. I've heard nothing about it getting a UK distributor yet and certainly nothing's been submitted to the BBFC as I write this, so this might be your best bet to see it if you haven't already done so.

Two Irish films are on release in Ireland at the moment. The Liam Neeson/James Nesbitt drama dealing with the legacy of the troubles, FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN, is playing at all of four cinemas (as far as I know). I've been too lazy to look up any reviews but it won a couple of awards at Sundance. Looks interesting, so if any of you are in Dublin, Dundrum, Cork or Galway why not go and see it. I'd hope that Neeson and Nesbitt coupled with the fact that it's directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel should be enough of interest to get it some kind of UK release, but I've heard nothing so far and the fact that its release in Ireland is so limited doesn't seem like a great sign - unless it's testing the water before a major release. If anyone know anything about a UK release let me know.

Slightly less likely to get a UK release I fear (although I hope I'm wrong) is the Irish animated romp THE SECRET OF KELLS, which played well at JDIFF last month. It's had some cracking reviews so if you've seen it let me know.

I suppose I could just organise a day trip at the weekend - fly over to Ireland first thing in the morning, see THE SECRET OF KELLS and FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN, pop into the shops to buy a copy of KISSES and then fly home again but even my love of Irish cinema doesn't stretch to such lengths. Actually that's a lie, my love of Irish cinema does... but my bank balance doesn't.

Belfast Film Festival recently announced its programme. There's a lot of Irish feature films playing, including John T Davis's documentary TAILWIND which I've missed at a couple of festivals. I mention this one specifically because it was on BBC NI a few days ago and I forgot to mention it here. I think that was an edited down version though, so if you get the chance go and see the full length version of this documentary about the Northern Irish contribution to World War II.

Their programme of Irish shorts features a whole heap of short films and no less than 14 of them have been covered here on this blog, most of them favourably, so why not go along and see some of them. I'm not going myself. I was tempted, particularly since I have never been there (and I believe my ancestors came from there so I could do the whole stereotypical tourist thing) but I'm reserving my holidays for the various other film festivals that I've still got planned for the year, including many more Irish ones. If there had been some really cheap flights I might still have been tempted with a last minute thing, mind you.

If you go to over to Youtube, the festival has posted a whole bunch of trailers showing at the festival, split into features and documentaries.

Going back to the subject of BBC NI, and to make up for not mentioning TAILWIND, a similar subject (this time American soldiers in Northern Ireland) is covered in OVER HERE which airs on BBC NI next week (9th March, 9pm). If, like me, you live elsewhere in the UK, you can get the regional variations of BBC on Sky Digital and such services.

Just to prove I'm not totally limited to this part of the world, I'll mention that there are a few Irish film festivals in American this month. San Francisco started today and is on tomorrow as well; Seattle is shortly after that; most significant is the Chicago Irish Film Festival. This runs from the 6th to the 11th of this month - features include classics and new films, such as THE INFORMER and KISSES. They'll also be showing a bunch of shorts, including Conor Ferguson's ATLANTIC which you'll recall I declared the fourth best film of 2008. So if you happen to be reading this in Chicago - first of all, hello from Scotland, and secondly, go and see some Irish films. Especially ATLANTIC.

Finally, Irish films are represented at this year's London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Neasa Ni Chianain's FAIRYTALE OF KATHMANDU, covered in this blog back during the Edinburgh film fest, is playing on 6th and 7th of April (paired with SPOTLIGHT: GAY PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, a short film about gays in Ulster). Short films at the festival also include the Irish films MAN HUGS by Aoife Sullivan (26th March) and JAMES by Connor Clements (6th April), the latter also having been covered in this blog.

Scottish update (4 March)

Okay, a bunch of Scottish-related film updates for you. I am seriously considering replacing the Freakpit with an all-new blog concentrating on the Scottish and Irish stuff by the way. Just so you know.

Richard Jobson's cult-destined Edinburgh action film NEW TOWN KILLERS, which I really want to see but have missed thus far, is playing at the Belfast Film Festival, which just announced its programme.

The Scottish short film THE HAPPY DUCKLING is playing as part of a collection of short films for kids at the DCA in Dundee on the 21st and 22nd on March. Additionally, there is a special event with the filmmakers on the 21st.

The MacRobert in Stirling is showing Alfred Hitchcock's fantastic version of THE 39 STEPS on 20th March and is also having a "Tartan Day" screening of STONE OF DESTINY on 4th April.

The Hippodrome, Scotland's oldest purpose-built cinema (completed in 1911) is nearing the end of its restoration and should open its doors as a cinema again in April. Check out these pictures on Flickr and try telling me you don't want to watch films in places like this.

BAFTA Scotland has announced the nominations for this year's New Talent Awards. First of all, well done to Rose Leslie for her nomination for NEW TOWN, as I thought her great performance was one of the few endearing characteristics of this BBC misfire.

What I really wanted to point out however are the nominations in the fiction category, as all three of them - FLASHED, I'M IN AWAY FROM HERE and LIFE OF A PIGEON - were covered by me in my recent round-up of the stuff I saw at the Glasgow Film Festival. LIFE OF A PIGEON also scored an acting nomination for Owen Gorman. Well done to all involved with all three films.

Talking of LIFE OF A PIGEON, I believe that you can actually watch it on the director's website at www.billycampbell.co.uk so off you go and do that now. There's another film he made as well, ISLAND TO ISLA, but I've not watched it (yet).

While we're on the subject of the shorts I saw at Glasgow, I should also point out that you can see FOUR FUR A FIVER on Youtube. Go here to see this short documentary.

Finally, again on the subject of Scottish short films, one of Scotland's most successful shorts, CRY FOR BOBO, is available on the BBC Film Network.

That's all for now. There's an Irish update coming tomorrow night.

JDIFF09: Irish Film Board Shorts

My final post about the stuff I saw in Dublin concerns the IFB Shorts. To tell the truth I'd already seen most of them in Cork, but I enjoyed them so much I thought I'd come and see them again.

For my verdict on THE ROOSTER, THE CROCODILE AND THE NIGHT SKY (Padraig Fagan), GRANNY O'GRIMM'S SLEEPING BEAUTY (Nicky Phelan), OF BEST INTENTIONS (Brian Durnin) and THE DOOR (Juanita Wilson), see one of my previous posts from Cork by clicking here. I'd like to change my mind about THE DOOR though and bump it up to 9/10 as well. I'll admit it, I was actually half asleep when I saw it in Cork and only gave it a 7. But it's brilliant, as are the other shorts I've just mentioned.

For my opinion on SPACEMEN THREE (Hugh O'Connor), click here for another post from last year's Cork fest, while my opinion on AN RANGER (PJ Dillon) can be found here. Regarding the latter, I actually like it even more this time round and I could swear it looked a lot better than I remember it looking at Cork. Maybe it was a projection thing; maybe it's because I was sitting much further forward in the cinema? Whatever the reason, it's still a great little film.

So that leaves the shorts which I saw at Dublin but hadn't seen before...

SHAPES (Alan Brennan) is a cracking little horror film which manages to cram more suspense, fright and memorable boogiemen into its five minutes than the majority of Hollywood blockbusting remakes manage in their ninety painful minutes. (8/10)

HOOR (John Kennedy) is an amusing look at three young boys who have saved their pennies for a trip to the local prostitute. Today they will become men. Nicely done with a pleasing punchline. (7/10)

COLOUR CONTAMINATION (Louise Bagnall) is an animated short which sees a man's cosy black and white world turned upside down by an invasion of colour. Sure, it's a bit weird, but it's amusing, stylish and an enjoyable three minutes of craziness. (7/10)

GFF09: Scottish Short Film Showcase

THE PROBLEM WITH PETS (Catriona Craig) is a funny little tale about a little girl who loves animals but begins to suspect that her mother's new boyfriend is deliberately killing them all. Good performances, a funny script and the contrast of a bright colourful setting with some very dark humour make this one a minor triumph.

FOUR FUR A FIVER (Silje Eirin Aure) is a documentary about the plight of Paddy's Market, a Glasgow working class institution which has been around since the 1800s but now faces closure as the lease expires and Glasgow councillors brand it a "crime ridden midden" home to drugs, prostitution etc. The film might work slightly better expanded with the full story but as the full story isn't yet known you can't really hold that against the film. What has been delivered is an nice little film with an interesting insight into the kind of Glasgow that the tourist board don't sell you.

SAMANTHA (Siri Rodnes) was the only one of the films I didn't really get. After the death of her grandmother, a young girl cuts loose and spends her time partying and getting wasted. And that's about it. Fair play to the filmmakers though, there are some really good performances and the film has some striking visuals and boasts some very good editing. Alas it's the story which has left me cold though.

FLASHED (Julian Krubasik) is a terrific little gem of a film with a simple (but odd) concept - a man stumbles across a photo-me booth which photographs the future. The story is clever but simple at the same time and deliveres a wonderful twist and some very nice effects. Excellent.

IRENE (Lindsay Goodall) is an acclaimed documentary short about three generations of women in the same family (the filmmaker, her mother and her ailing grandmother) and how they cope with the eldest suffering the onset of Alzheimer's. It's a wonderful film that is both devastatingly sad and also very touching. The only thing I'd say in terms of detraction is that while a lot of the humour is genuinely funny material, there was the odd moment where I found myself laughing at something funny that Irene said only for it to suddenly dawn on me that she'd only said it because of the failing faculties that have stricken her. Moments like this made me a little uncomfortable as I'm not sure whether I should be laughing or not, but that's a minor quibble with what is otherwise a terrific film.

I'M IN AWAY FROM HERE (Catriona MacInnes) is a tale of two men with disabilities and the adventure they have as they wander off from their youth club and take a stroll round Edinburgh. The story drags a little in places but strong central performances, good location work (the film was shot around Leith and Portobello) and an effective in-your-face shooting style compensate for it.

Best of 2008 (5-3)

Almost at the top - here's the next few films in my countdown of the best fifty films of last year...

5 JESUS CHRIST SAVIOUR
Documentary made up of archive footage of Klaus Kinski, arguably the maddest actor ever to chew up the screen, on an evangelical tour of Germany. It's just him on stage for most of it, but it's testament to his crazy appeal that it's still brilliant.

4 ATLANTIC
A short film by Conor Ferguson which I saw twice at last year's Cork festival and described previously as "three minutes of cinematic perfection".

3 JANEY MARY
From one heartbreaking Irish short to another. You probably remember I raved about this one at length.


And the Freakpit's choice of best two films of 2008? Find out tomorrow...

Best of 2008 (45-41)

45 GONE BABY GONE
This terrific thriller should have been in the 2007 list but its UK release was delayed until the new year because of certain events in the news.

44 NOTE BY NOTE: THE MAKING OF STEINWAY L1037
I missed this when it played at Stranger Than Fiction, but at least caught it when it appeared at the inaugural Illuminations documentary film festival at Filmhouse. Come to think of it, I saw half a dozen films at that festival and forgot to write about any of them. Oh well, it's not the last one from that festival to appear in my top fifty. The film's about how Steinway make a piano, by the way.

43 THE MORSE COLLECTORS
Haunting Northern Irish short film which I saw at a couple of festivals in 2008.

42 THE THIRD PINT
South America, a man with a dodgy beard, some holiday footage on 8mm and some weirdly hypnotic synth music. This oddball entry might never be seen anywhere again and even if you do see it you might very well hate it. I was entranced.

41 LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
Ryan Gosling gives another terrific performance as the emotionally unhinged loner who falls in love with an inflatable doll... who promptly wins over the local community.

Irish film update (17 Jan)

Another brief round-up on the Irish movie front.

Are you familiar with the film THE LAST CONFESSION OF ALEXANDER PEARCE?

Nope, nor am I, since currently it's only popped up on RTE in Ireland. The film tells the true story of the Irishman who was transported to one of the most infamous prisons and ended up in the wilds of Australia indulging in cannibalism. The film is to be shown on BBC in the UK (no idea when - let me know if you find out) but in the meantime a documentary is being shown on the subject, on the History channel (UK). It's on Sunday 25th January at 9pm. And while you're on the History channel, watch out for a repeat of the two-part documentary FLEEING THE FAMINE, which has just been shown. Terrific, if somewhat depressing.

IFTN reports that Decklan Recks' EDEN has finally found a UK-based distributor. No word yet on when or if it will appear in UK cinemas, but wherever it appears, you should see it. It'll be appearing very high up my "Best of 2008" list, whenever I get round to writing it.

Talking of distribution, I also see from IFTN that someone has picked up the controversial and brilliant documentary FAIRYTALE OF KATHMANDU for US distribution. Quite right too.

IFTN also reports the nominations for the IFTA short film award. Particularly pleasing is that they're all films I've seen - can't say that ever happens at the Oscars. The films are AN RANGER (PJ Dillon), THE DOOR (Juanita Wilson), MARTIN (Sean Branigan) and OF BEST INTENTIONS (Brian Durnin). If I had to pick one, it'd probably prefer AN RANGER to win but to be honest they're all very good and I'm happy for all of them, whoever wins. I think THE DOOR will probably scoop it.

On the subject of short films, WALK ON BY (Tim Hannan) which I saw and very much enjoyed at Galway last year is now available on YouTube.

Well done also to Connor Clements who, I've just read in the press, has had his short film JAMES (another one I've mentioned here in the past) selected to screen at Sundance. Apparently it'll be available on iTunes during the festival as well, so watch out for that.

And finally, well done to Colin Farrell for winning an acting award at the Golden Globes for the terrific IN BRUGES. Normally I wouldn't even mention this, but he's the only thing that meant I made a profit when gambling on the awards (didn't think SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE would win quite as many as it did). Result.

Scottish & Irish film update (9 Jan)

I've seen a bunch of new releases that I've yet to write about; it's surely time for a "best of 2008" series of posts; the awards season is upon us, which means me losing lots of money making foolishly optimistic bets; but no, I've not yet got round to writing about any of that, so here's another of my semi-regular updates on developments in Scottish and Irish film.

In Ireland, the IFTAs are almost upon us - as I've mentioned though, I've not done anything about my stupid annual betting frenzy yet so that can wait. Here's hoping there are enough awards to go round HUNGER and IN BRUGES, but it would be nice to see a "smaller" film like KISSES or 32A take something.

Ciarin Scott's biopic of George Morrison, WAITING FOR THE LIGHT, which you've seen reviewed here at two different festivals, is now listed on the IMDB. Hurrah! Unlike MISE EIRE and SAOIRSE?, it didn't take my efforts to do so.

THE FORMORIAN, a splendid little short film which I saw way back at Cork 2007 is now available for viewing on the BBC's Film Network site, which I've mentioned here before. You can find a bunch of films from Scotland and Northern Ireland there.

Because I'm too lazy to have done my "Best of 2008" at the moment (I'll try to do it a bit sooner than October, unlike the best of 2007) I may as well point you in the direction of another blog with an Irish focus, the Cork-based The Stub, to which I'm a regular visitor. Like my own lists, you might agree or disagree but will at least get a list of top films that is probably more interesting than the mainstream ones you'll be seeing in all your popular movie magazines and websites.

As for Scotland...

Well, I mentioned above that you can see a bunch of Scottish short films on the BBC Film Network site.

There's a double bill of films by American-born-but-really-he's-a-Scot Alexander Mackendrick this Sunday afternoon at the Cameo cinema in Edinburgh. On show will be the Scots-focused WHISKY GALORE (based on Compton MacKenzie's novel, which was in turn based on real events that happened on the island of Eriskay), paired with the entirely different but absolutely excellent SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, in which Tony Curtis and Burt Lancaster play a pair of sleazy gossip columnists. You really need to see this film if you haven't already done so.

THE ST KILDA TAPES will be returning to the GFT on Monday 19th January and will also be popping up at Filmhouse the day before that.

If you've not been watching anything in BBC's season Scotland's History, you should. I am assuming this has been timed to coincide with Scotland's first ever Homecoming Year. Aside from the flagship series (the breath-taking A HISTORY OF SCOTLAND), they've been putting out some brilliant documentaries so far - THATCHER & THE SCOTS, SHETLAND LONE STAR, THE WORLD ACCORDING TO ROBERT BURNS and THE ADVENTURES OF DON ROBERTO.
The brilliant Gaellic feature SEACHD: THE INACCESSIBLE PINNACLE has been showing several times on BBC Alba. If you've missed all the screenings so far, fret not - there's another one on the 11th January at 17:00. Set your recorders now.

In fact, keep an eye on BBC Alba's schedules as it's turning into THE place to find some really fascinating Scottish documentaries.

Talking of Gaellic stuff, there's a three day festival called FILM's CRAIC at the CCA in Glasgow later this month which will be showing lots of it, mainly the sort of stuff on BBC Alba and STV's Gaellic programming, with some special events thrown in. It might be worth a look.

That's all for now.

Current release: THE NEW TEN COMMANDMENTS

THE NEW TEN COMMANDMENTS, mentioned here previously, hasn't exactly been a recent release as such, but it's had some cinema outings and a showing on TV. Not so much a film as a collection of films, each film (by a different filmmaker or team of filmmakers) examines one of the articles of the declaration of human rights. In hindsight, it makes you wonder about the name since it covers rights rather than commandments, but we'll let that slide since it's such an accomplished work.

Stand-outs are both of the contributions by Mark Cousins (one with Tilda Swinton which captures a love of cinema like few other films; the other with Irvine Welsh about the incarceration of Kenny Richey); examinations of the trial of the alleged Lockerbie bomber; the portrait of a man campaigning for a Scottish Republic; and an amusing look at a serious breach of privacy.

Truth be told, nearly all the films are very good, the only weak link in my humble opinion being Douglas Gordon's contribution which is little more than a dark room with random sounds. It's probably exactly what he was aiming for but it's not particularly cinematic.

I have no idea what further plans there are for this film but if it surfaces on DVD any time soon, pick it up.

Scottish & Irish film update (6 Nov)

Time for another little update on my beloved Scottish and Irish film interests. First of all, a couple of things relating to both countries.

There's a strand of Scottish related documentaries at this year's Sheffield Doc Fest, which has just kicked off. They include a whole bunch of short films and the compilation film THE NEW 10 COMMANDMENTS, which premiered at Edinburgh this year.

There are also a couple of Irish documentaries showing as well, specifically SEAVIEW and GABRIEL BYRNE: STORIES FROM HOME. I've written nice things about both of them here before, so go and see them if you're there.

(You might wonder, given my love of documentaries and festivals and the fact that it's a relatively short distance away, why I'm not there. It's because I can't afford it. Maybe next year.)

Incidentally, while reading about the Scottish docs, I discovered the BBC's Film Network which offers loads of short films for watching online, including award-winning Scottish documentary BREADMAKERS and MA BOY, which I saw at a festival. It's lovely and I've no idea why it's taken until now to discover it.

Also relating to both Scotland and Ireland is the documentary film AR DOVER FEIN. It's from 2001 and has popped up on the digital station BBC Alba (under a slightly different title, which I presume is due to going from Irish to Scottish gaelic). It tells the tragic story of a group of Irish immigrants killed in a bothy fire in Scotland in 1937 and raises questions about what actually happened. Fascinating and tragic, it's of Scottish interest and obviously popping up on the gaelic BBC channel, but it was originally a co-production of the Irish Film Board and Irish-language channel TG4.

More Irish stuff further down the page; first it's the Scottish stuff.

Scottish nationalist caper movie STONE OF DESTINY goes on release elsewhere in the UK from 21 November following its earlier release in Scotland.

Presumably timed to coincide with Homecoming, Scottish Screen reports that the BBC are kick-starting a new initiative about Scottish history. This includes a new TV documentary series THE HISTORY OF SCOTLAND which premieres on BBC1 Scotland this Sunday.

The Filmhouse in Edinburgh will be showing the Grampian TV documentary JOURNEY TO A KINGDOM on Tuesday 11th November.

Two days after that (that'll be Thursday 13th then), just up the road from there, the legendary Cameo cinema will have a special whisky-tasting event followed by a screening of WHISKY GALORE.

Then on St Andrews Day (30th November if you didn't know), the Glasgow Film Theatre will have a special screening of a trio of vintage Scottish films including THE ST KILDA TAPES.

Finally (in my Scottish coverage at least), the BAFTA Scotland awards take place this Sunday and as usual what should be an opportunity to celebrate Scottish film ends up reminding us what a terrible state it's in.

The feature film award is between STONE OF DESTINY, SUMMER and OUTPOST. I didn't see SUMMER or OUTPOST, though the latter didn't exactly win much of a distribution. SUMMER will win it anyway.

In the acting stakes, newcomer Alia Alzougbi (TROUBLE SLEEPING) is up against Robert Carlyle (SUMMER again) and Brian Cox (for THE ESCAPIST but should be for RED), although I notice that Peter Mullen gets a TV nomination for BOY A which I saw at Cork last year.
I've seen none of the animation nominees but in the short category, THE ISLAND was quite good.

Now on to a couple of Irish bits and pieces...

After managing to get MISE EIRE added to the IMDb I am now proud to report that I've managed to get its sequel SAOIRSE? added as well. The George Morrison campaign continues.

The Irish Film and Television Network reports that the incredible film EDEN gets a limited opening in the US this month. If only UK cinemagoers were as lucky.

IFTN also reports prize wins for the excellent THE MORSE COLLECTORS by David Cooke and the even-more-excellent JANEY MARY by Paul Brady. As my previous coverage will attest, both films are thoroughly deserving of it, so well done to them.

Elsewhere on the IFTN site, there is a further prize for the documentary FAIRYTALE OF KATHMANDU and GET COLLINS picks up a nomination in the International Documentary Awards. Good stuff.

Filmbase reports the arrival of a new Irish shorts initiative at the IFI in Dublin. This sort of thing always deserves your support.

Finally, a reminder that Irish thriller ALARM goes on release in Ireland this month. I didn't like it much, but see it and make up your own mind.

Horrorthon'08: MINDFLESH (2008)

MINDFLESH is a low-budget British horror about a troubled taxi driver who sees a ghostly woman while out on his rounds (he never seems to actually take any fares though) and begins to get into deep trouble as he investigates.

This film is an absolute turd. Bad acting, dialogue that I can't believe was read with a straight face and generally just lots of weirdness. That's about all I can say really. In fact, it's all I want to say, since this film was so bad that reliving it just makes me angry.

The only time it ever becomes watchable (which is really saying something, given the gratuitous nudity) is when Christopher Fairbank (Moxey from AUF WIEDERSEHEN PET) shows up as a mad scientist. Well, he's not really mad, but Fairbank overacts with such delight that he pretty much feels totally insane.

MINDFLESH screened with the short film INTO THE MIRROR which certainly demonstrated promise and potential from a filmmaking perspective. It was strikingly shot on what one assumes was some very cheap equipment and while there are serious issues with the dialogue the rest of the sound design is impressive. It did however leave me wondering what the hell it was all about. It was certainly a great deal better than the shite it was paired up with.

Actually, you can make up your own mind, as I've just discovered that INTO THE MIRROR is available for viewing on YouTube - click here to see it. While you're there you can also search for a couple of MINDFLESH-related clips/trailers but frankly I wouldn't waste your time.

Cork'08 - IFB Oscailt shorts

The final part of my personal Cork round-up concludes with the Oscailt programme, a collection of shorts made in the Irish language (plus one).

FEILEACHAN [DRIVING LESSON] (Cecilia McAllister) - a girl and her mother try to come to terms with the latter's mental illness, though not necessarily successfully. I'd like to have seen this fleshed out a bit into a longer film and explored further, but when the only complaint I have about a film is that I wanted to see more of it, it's not really much of a complaint. (8/10)

AN RANGER (PJ Dillon) - An Irishman returns from years away with the army to discover that his family has died during the famine. His quest to uncover the truth leads down a dark road in this gritty little gem. There's no melancholy examination of the great famine here - just anger, bitterness and a very good film. (9/10)

AN FOIREANN CODLADH (Danann Breathnach) - A young man thinks he's found the perfect home when he moves into his new house in a quiet Irish town. The peace doesn't last though and he soon finds himself battling his neighbours, including the church across the road. A quirky sense of humour and a likeable lead performance make it a pleasurable experience. (7/10)

NOLLAIG SHONA [Merry Christmas] (Orla Murphy) - A young man's break-up bitterly affects his Christmas arrangement, in particular his odd relationship with a Christmas tree. I can't fault the imagination involved and it certainly has its moments, but parts of it were just a little too wilfully weird for my taste. (6/10)

There was a late addition to the programme in the form of a short entitled "Paddy's Tale" or something like that but unfortunately I can't remember exactly what its name was. The fact that I don't speak a word of Irish may be hindering my memory somewhat. If anyone can remember what it was called or who directed it, please post a comment here to let me know so I can recognise it properly.

The film, whatever it was called, concerns a small boy who loses himself in a world of Irish myths and legends with his grandfather, but can't come to terms with his widowed mother remarrying. These two strands of his life clash at first but ultimately tie together in an affectionate and touching film that I thought was very good indeed. If only I could remember what it was called. (9/10)

Finally, filling a gap on the programme but not technically part of the Oscailt series (rather it's part of the "Short Cuts" initiative) was THE GERMAN (Nick Ryan). Starring up and coming Brit star Toby Kebbell (DEAD MAN'S SHOES, ROCK'N'ROLLA, CONTROL) as a pilot in World War II, the film sees the young Brit crash during a battle with a German, whom he then pursues on foot. The aerial battle is thrilling and well executed, Kebbell turns in a good performance and the ending brings a wry smile to the face. (8/10)

And that's all the stuff I saw in Cork. Back next week!

Cork'08 - Irish Film Board Shorts

Okay, I've covered the "Irish Shorts" programme, but I've still got a couple more to do. Here's the "Irish Film Board Shorts" programme.

UNCLE BILL'S BARREL (Eoin Ryan) - Two famous Irish traditions (wakes and drinking) combine with some strange goings on in a rural community when a deceased man's special booze supply is cracked open. Stylish and funny, it's like a comedy fusion of classic Irish literature and 70s Hammer films. (8/10)

Unfortunately Kealan O'Rourke's FAIRY CATCHER wasn't quite ready in time for the festival but they did show a little teaser trailer and it looks very promising indeed.

THE MAN INSIDE (Rory Bresnihan) is an intriguingly weird short that details what happens when a man finds himself locked inside his apartment one morning and is unable to escape. There was something about the film that didn't quite sit right with me, and I can't figure out what. The acting is competent enough and the visual style of it (particularly the imaginary city in which the lead character lives) combines well with a quirky atmosphere (helped by a real mish-mash of accents) to give the film a unique feel. I certainly can't fault the story either, since it takes a decent concept and follows it through to a wonderful ending. There was just something about it that didn't quite stick together but I'll be damned if I can put my finger on it. (7/10)

TWO POINT FIVE BILLION (Jamie Hannigan) is similar. The story is an interesting one (ADAM & PAUL writer and star Mark O'Halloran is a scientist who comes a cropper during a time travel experiment), the acting is good (O'Halloran convinces, and the film gets bonus points for including a brief role for Laura Way, quite possibly my favourite lady in the whole of Ireland). Again, there's just something missing but alas I lack the critical nous to determine exactly what it is. Still a very good film though, it's just not quite top marks from me. (8/10)

The above films were accompanied by two documentary shorts, VISITING DAY (Ciaran Deeney) and WATER BODIES (Jennifer Keegan). I'm afraid neither of them really appealed to me. I was never entirely clear on what was going on or what I should take from the former (a look at the effects of imprisonment on the family of the prisoners), and the latter (a fly on the wall observation of two sites of pilgrimage) didn't really grab me. Maybe it's just because I wasn't that interested in the subject, but it seemed to me like fifteen minutes of people wading around in water and nothing more. Shame, as it looked very nice. VISITING DAY gets 4/10 and WATER BODIES gets 5/10.

Cork'08 - Irish Shorts 5

The final collection in the "Irish Shorts" strand represented another quality batch of shorts, though this time with a bit more emphasis on humour.

THE ROOSTER, THE CROCODILE AND THE NIGHT SKY (Padraig Fagan) is a fairy tale of sorts, though told with thoroughly modern sensibilities. Innovative and imaginative animation combines with a madcap sense of humour to tell a delightful tale of rooster versus crocodile in a battle to reclaim the night. (9/10)

TERMINAL COMMUNICATION (Michael Fortune) is another one that I covered at Stranger Than Fiction but it's worth reiterating that it's a very, very funny film that wrings maximum humour from a straightforward situation. (9/10)

THE HERD (Ken Wardrop) is a documentary laced with large amounts of humour in which a man and his mother discuss the appearance of an out-of-place animal among their herd of cattle, with both offering very different opinions. Another film that will make you laugh out loud. (8/10)

GRANNY O'GRIMM'S SLEEPING BEAUTY (Nicky Phelan) combines modern CG animation with more traditional techniques to create an Irish take on the famous fairy tale, with dark humour throughout. (9/10)

SOUND AND STONE (Damien O'Donnell) uses the sights of everyday Dublin to bring life to a unique rendition of a traditional Irish song. Deceptively simple but very enjoyable. (8/10)

HAPPY HOUR (Barrie Dowdall) - Okay, not so funny this one. Four conversations in a pub, delivered straight to camera by talking heads, intertwine to tell of an impending event that will affect all of them. Deliberately sparse with the visuals, but a clever little script. (7/10)

OF BEST INTENTIONS (Brian Durnin) is another tale that weaves together a group of seemingly unrelated characters' lives in one smart little film. Visually accomplished and very satisfying. (8/10)

THE DOOR (Juanita Wilson) - although it wasn't my favourite of the bunch I can't grudge it the prize that it won at the festival as this short, focussing on a man who lived through the Chernobyl disaster, is a lovely little film and tells its story in a tasteful, touching manner. (7/10)

Cork'08 - Irish Shorts 4

My coverage of the shorts at Cork continues with what was probably the strongest selection yet...

ATLANTIC (Conor Ferguson) - occasionally you'll see a film that just totally blows you away with its brilliance. Back in Galway it was JANEY MARY. ATLANTIC is the latest (and luckily I ran from here to the Opera House for HUNGER only to discover the film was getting an airing before that movie too - bonus!). The fact that I believe there is no sound on Earth as lovely as a lady with an Irish accent probably helps since the entirety of the speech in the film comes in the form of a haunting, romantic voice-over by Marian Quinn. However, putting it all down to that only trivialises the other aspects of the film, such as the impeccably beautiful direction, the heartbreaking story and a mesmerising performance from Liam Cunningham, who delivers his all despite only being on screen for a few minutes and not having any dialogue. Three minutes of cinematic perfection. (10/10)

SANDPIPER (Jimmy T Murikami) - nothing could really follow ATLANTIC but this was certainly an entertaining film all the same. A small boy looks after an injured bird. The film is brought to life by bold, colourful animation and an air of sweet innocence. (8/10)

JAMES (Connor Clements) - this is a dark tale of a young schoolboy who clearly has a lot on his plate but with nobody to listen to his problems. Not a happy tale, but a really good little film. (8/10)

I (Ann Marie Brennan) - A man is in love with the woman who lives opposite, though they've never spoken. And now she's moving out. Simultaneously heartbreaking and humourous, a wonderful tale of unrequited love with a difference. A terrific little film. (9/10)

AVATAR DAYS (Gavin Kelly) - a fairly simple and, dare I say it, even mundane idea (some people who play World of Warcraft discuss their hobby) is brought to life by an ingenious way of presenting their stories. (8/10)

UP FOR AIR (Richie Conroy, Mark Hodkinson) - this is another one that I've already mentioned after I saw it in Galway this year but interestingly I actually found I liked it an awful lot more second time around. Amusing. (8/10)

BRIXTON BOB (Devin John Doyle) - two men discuss love and reggae on a fishing boat. The story didn't really click with me - it felt somehow unfinished - but the location shooting is impressive and a potentially drab setting (a trawler at sea) is far more colourful than it has any right to be thanks to some decent photography. (7/10)

MARTIN (Sean Branigan) - a man with a history of violence tries to change his ways when he hears from his estranged family. Well made film which puts human drama ahead of any gimmicky visual tricks, but bloody hell it's bleak. (7/10)

I hope to finish rounding up the rest of the short films I saw tomorrow night, but if I fail then I guess you'll have to wait until the middle of next week I'm afraid.

Cork'08 - Irish Shorts 3

Continuing my round up of the short films I saw at Cork this year...

PIROGUES (Alice Bohl) - Beautifully animated tale of two couples who seem worlds apart but will end up closer than they think. A genuine work of art. (8/10)

WHAT YOU DIDN'T SAY (David Tynan) - The third short film I've written about by this guy and I'm now really beginning to think he's got some issues. Once again, young love proves to be a scary place as two youngsters try to communicate their feelings but fail miserably. A lot funnier than it sounds though, and once again stylishly presented. (8/10)

MONA: A GHOST STORY (Terry O'Leary) - looks and sounds terrific, but I just didn't connect with it. (5/10)

FETISH PHOTOGRAPHY: QUESTIONS ANSWERED (Suzana Zalokar) - not as dirty as it sounds, and that's exactly the point of the film. Examining why people like such things and more importantly why women appear in it, this short sheds new light on a misunderstood topic. (7/10)

THE MORSE COLLECTORS (David Cooke) - I already covered this one at Galway, but it was a pleasure to see it again. Two kids in wartime Northern Ireland discover a haunting secret communication... (8/10)

WORN (Rebecca Daly) - interviews with a family, about their shoes. More interesting than it sounds but not really my cup of tea. (6/10)

FALL (Paddy Jolley) - Things fall out the sky and break. Okay, it's very arty and all that, but this one I just didn't get at all. Others did, so maybe I'm in a minority. Fair play, it looked nice though. (5/10)

SPACEMEN THREE (Hugh O'Connor) - Obviously had a bit of a budget, this one. Pat Shortt is the unwelcome Irish scientist stuck on a space mission with two astronauts who really don't want him there. A fairly average script is bolstered by slick presentation and a reliably amusing performance by Shortt. (8/10)

Cork coverage to be continued...

Cork'08 - Irish Shorts 2

In case you're wondering, no, I've not forgotten to post a "part 1" or anything. I'm going by the titles of the programmes in the festival, and Irish Shorts 2 was the first of them that I managed to get to. The good news is that I managed to squeeze in a lot of them in the few days I was there, so let the short film coverage (with appropriately short reviews) begin. I can't be bothered writing huge amounts for every film so I'll just settle for giving a mark out of ten. Yeah, I know, it's really lazy and tabloid-like but it gets the point across more than my inadequate writing is likely to.

MY DAY (Eamonn O'Neill) - striking animated short that shows a bus journey turn into a nightmare. We've all had one. Good stuff. (7/10)

COUNTDOWN (David Tynan) - An adaptation of the poem "Countdown to Ecstasy" which blends stylish visuals with some atmospheric electronic music to illustrate the last days of an ill-fated young romance. (8/10)

TEDDY BEAR (David Tynan) - Same director as above and again it's another tale of young love gone wrong, this time brimming with tension but somehow manages to combine bleak despair with dark humour. And a teddy bear. (7/10)

DOYLE (Alan Early) - A man takes a trip into the country and lets himself go, but there are dark things going on. Gritty but not without humour, though it didn't really do much for me. (5/10)

(ENOUGH) (Barry Dignan) - A young couple have an argument in a restaurant. Nobody notices. Very funny but also rather touching. It's interesting to note that the film is supposed to play with subtitles but a technical cock-up meant it didn't; interesting because after it screened again, corrected, a lot of people thought it was deliberate and I actually heard some folk say they preferred it without! With or without subtitles, it's terrific. (9/10)

OUT OF THE BLUE (Michael Lavelle) - A man finds a telly in the sea, and so begins a weird kind of romance. Combining quirky humour with out-and-out fantasy, this is a really novel take on the romance genre and proved popular with the audience too. Including me. (8/10)

MR CROCODILE IN THE CUPBOARD (Morgan Bushe) - a hit goes wrong for a couple of small-time crooks. Left me feeling a bit "so what?" to be honest, but there's no denying it's technically well enough made and has reasonable chemistry between the two leads (Darren Healy and the always great Gerard McSorley). (5/10)

LOWLAND FELL (Michael Kinirons) - a young girl's birthday is spent in the country with two boys she meets, and things begin to get a bit... interesting. I began to lose interest in the story towards the end, but it's beautifully shot and one of the more visually distinctive presentations of the programme. (7/10)

Cork coverage to be continued...

Best of 2007 (40 to 31)

40. STUCK
Stephen Rea is the homeless tramp who crashes through Mina Suvari's windscreen and gets stuck there for most of the film. She panics and leaves him there. Then they try to kill each other. Blackly hilarious horror mayhem (based on a true story!) from director Stuart Gordon.

39. TEETH
A young girl has teeth where she shouldn't in this gruesome but hilarious comedy horror which is destined to be a cult classic.

38. RESCUE DAWN
An actor of Bale's calibre teaming up with Werner Herzog - how can that not be gold? Herzog revisits the story of a pilot's escape from Laos (the subject of his documentary LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY) but as a drama. Moving and spectacular (apart from some poor special effects), but sadly little seen.

37. 28 WEEKS LATER
If there's one thing that sums this one up, it's surprise. Hollywood making a big budget sequel to a low-budget Brit horror hit? Without the original writer-director team? It had "dross" written all over it so it was to everyone's surprise when it turned out to be a highly entertaining horror thriller. Having Danny Boyle come back as overseer if not a director may have helped.

36. POITIN
Bob Quinn's tale of dodgy characters carrying out their nasty deeds in Connemara was actually a film from the 1970s, however the version I saw at Cork in 2007 was the new director's cut, so I'm chucking it into my top forty of 2007 on a technicality!

POITIN

35. ZOO
A surprisingly touching film is not what I expected from a documentary about a secret gang of people who were a little, er, "enthusiastic" about animals, but that's what we got in this controversial but beautifully made investigative film.

34. SON OF MAN
A retelling of the Christ story relocated to modern day Africa which is another fine example of how wonderfully vibrant African cinema currently is.

33. ZODIAC
This meticulous recreation of the world of the 1970s' unsolved serial killings somehow overcomes the fact that we already know that nobody has ever been caught. Bravura direction from Fincher and superb performances from actors like Downey Jr and Mark Ruffalo certainly help.

32. SEACHD: THE INACCESSIBLE PINNACLE
The first theatrically-released film in Scottish Gaelic was more than just a script translated into the language. It was unashamedly a Scottish film with so many national traditions and stories woven throughout. A celebration of the whole of Gaelic culture which was unfortunately denied the widespread release it deserved.

31. NO REGRETS IN THE WEST & WITHOUT WORDS
Yep, I know I've banged on about these before and that you're probably sick of me going on about Irish short films and all that, but these two were special and really deserve a mention. So I'm going to break the rules and stick them in here together despite them being two entirely separate films.

Short films @ Stranger Than Fiction 2008

Finishing my round-up of this year's Stranger Than Fiction film festival at the IFI in Dublin, here's a few (very) brief thoughts on the short film selection from Sunday morning. Well, apart from Rouzbeh Rashidi's THE BLIGHT, which was unfortunately abandoned due to some technical issues.

THE CEMETERY PEOPLE (Alessandro Molatore) takes a look at the life of a community of families in South America (I think - I've forgotten, sorry) who have built what amounts to a small town in a large cemetery. There's nothing flashy or showy about the film, but there doesn't need to be. The simple sight of a group of poverty-stricken people sleeping in emptied-out tombs is enough leave you with your mouth hanging open in disbelief.

HEADFORT (Brendan Casey) is a look at the life of the kids in an Irish boarding school. They're all rich and posh and while the film is interesting in itself it's even more striking when shown in contrast to the lives of some of the people in the other short films on offer here (such as the film above). Truly a case of "how the other half live".

GOD & NAPOLEON (Ciaran Deeney) is an observation on the life of an Irish bachelor living out in the middle of nowhere in a rundown cottage (think along the lines of Pat Shortt in GARAGE - except real). It's beautifully shot and although I spent the first minute or two thinking I was going to get very bored very quickly, it had quite the opposite reaction. By the end I was fascinated and truly drawn into the film. A nice film and a deserved prize winner.

WALKING DREAMS (Evan Barry) sees a beautiful young woman ballet dancing while a voiceover from a paralysed woman plays in stark contrast. Another beautifully shot piece and another deserved prize winner. The music was also haunting but if anyone out there knows where I've heard it before, please leave a comment and tell me. I'm sure it was in a film or a trailer for something, and I can't remember what. And now I'm getting really annoyed.

THE PUPPETEER AND THE INVENTOR (Donal O’Mahony & Mischa Langemeijer) documents the work of the titular couple who, between them, have created some startling work including a robotic tramp which is scarily realistic and a robotic/puppet monkey that is also half way between scary and hilarious. Illuminating stuff.

PIGEON MEN (Marryanne Christodoulou) is an Australian film about a community of pigeon fanciers (as we call them in Scotland) telling of how they got into their hobby and the effect it has had on their lives. Mildly amusing, but not really my cup of tea.

A DAY IN PALESTINE (Mary Ellen Davis, José Garcia Lozano & Will Eizlini) is exactly what it suggests, a short film showing everyday life in Palestine. Cue several shots of people climbing over a wall; not enough substance for my liking, but certainly stylish enough, with the films all having that super-8 home movie look about them. And I mean that in a good way.

THE DAY I SAW YOU (Aine Ni Fhaolain) is an observational piece following daily life in Dublin, accompanied by an effective music score. Imagine an Irish version of BARAKA and you've probably got a fair idea what to expect. Parts of it veered a little close to invasion of privacy for my liking but that didn't stop me enjoying it. On the contrary, I thought it was an excellent film and, for whatever this is worth, it was the film I voted for in the audience award ballot.

ILLUSTION DWELLERS (Robb Ellender) is a short film about homeless people. In pointing out that they're not that different to you or me, or that they're not all junkies and alcoholics the director wouldn't really be bringing anything new to the table. Where he succeeds however is doing it with some refreshingly interesting interviews and a wonderfully stylish approach (animations appearing on the paving stones, subtle alterations to street signs, etc.). Very good indeed.

THE RICHNESS OF CHANGE (Colin Murphy) is a series of short vignettes about the lives of people of various ethnicities in Ireland. It's interesting and there's nothing wrong with the presentation per se, but it does feel a little bit like it's been put together to bludgeon schoolkids with a message.

BINGO (Michael Fortune) is a simple little film relating the odd practice of "drive-in bingo". To be honest I couldn't decide whether this was a true event or something the director just made up for a laugh, but either way it works. The presentation is simple but effective and the result is an odd but funny spectacle.

TERMINAL COMMUNICATION (Michael Fortune) is another humour piece from the same director, and once again uses a simple presentation to find humour in an everyday situation. Anyone who's ever been left thoroughly bemused by stupid roadmarkings won't be able to help themselves laughing at this film, which uses sped up footage recorded over a period of time at a badly-labelled junction in Ireland to demonstrate the different ways of dealing with the problem. A terrific little film, it received a special mention from the jury and got a very positive reaction from the audience too.